Main Motives In Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 935 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/06/10 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Frederick Douglass Essay Did you like this example? Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an autobiographical book written by Frederick Douglass and published in 1845. A former slave, the author recollects his passed life as a slave in the South and reveals the numerous the atrocities of the institution of slavery. The book is a recollection of the years spent as a constantly oppressed and humiliated slave. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Main Motives In Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass" essay for you Create order In such a way, his own experiences that Frederick Douglass narrates in the book tell us a lot about slave life in the nineteenth century. As Douglass notes, three or four hundred slaves in the plantation where he worked lived hard life full of constant hardships: they had their small allowance of food, and received around seven dollars in order to cover their bodies with clothes. There were even no beds for slaves to sleep on and they often slept all together on the floor in cold nights. When he was relocated to the city, Douglass was treated not very bad, which suggests better conditions of city slaves when compared to those in plantations. Most importantly, here he learned to read and write here, which was extremely important to Douglass. The young man perceived that literacy was his path towards freedom. It provided him with the hope not to die as a slave but spend several years being a free man. Interestingly, the autobiography can also be interpreted in lieu of the writerrs re-evaluation of the Christian beliefs on the subject of slavery. Sometimes, Douglass writing style reminds of the Biblical manner of narrative. Nevertheless, Christianity as presented by the author appears to be of dual nature when he reveals the hypocrisy of slave owners who call themselves Christians. The narrator refers to slaves as precious souls are to-day shut up in the prison-house of slavery (Douglass Garrison, 1845, p.70). He simply cannot understand how this universe can be ruled by a righteous God when so many suffering and injustice are around: and for what does he hold the thunders in his right hand, if not to smite the oppressor, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the spoiler? (Douglass Garrison, 1845, p.70). Douglass wonders why men and women are sold into slavery to build churches and children are sold to buy Bibles all for the glory of God and the good of souls! The slave auctioneerrs bell and the church-going bell chime in with each other, and the bitter cries of the heart-broken slave are drowned in the religious shouts of his pious master (Douglass Garrison, 1845, p.102). Besides, Douglass narrates his experience as a slave through the concepts of hierarchy and subordination. The author makes it clear that he understands how financial and social hierarchies work: when pointing out that it is very bad to be a slave and instantly ironically notes that being a slave to the more laborious poorer classes is even worse. Douglass further analyses Mr. Auldrs sarcastic idea on education and the hazards associated with it. For the owner, learning is very dangerous for the entire slave system: the man was convinced that even the best slave can be spoilt once s/he gets educated: A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master†to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world. (Douglass Garrison, 1845, p.29). Even being an educated free man, Douglas mentions that as a former slave, he does not know an exact date of his birth. Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine how people can live without knowing when they were born. This confession also tells a lot about the atrocities of the institution of slavery in the nineteenth century, one group of people treated others as non-humans. Another proof that the narrator was treated not like a human being, but as an animal is the fact that he did not even have his own surname. Only after becoming a free person, he chose the surname Douglass for himself. Douglass worldview changed over time after becoming free, he did not express hatred towards slave owners but spoke of them in an objective way. Deeply impressed with his emotive speech, the anti-slavery society granted him a lectureship, and Douglass managed to publish his autobiography. Therefore, the suffering he endured did not make him cruel and hating person instead, Douglass became stronger and more resistant to the future hardships in his life. It is noteworthy that the narration hardly contains the speeches full of hatred since Douglass manages to distance himself from revenge. As an objective writer, Douglass tends to analyze his past in the tone of insight. Still, some scenes described by him are truly emotional and hard to read even for the contemporary reader: it is believed that a dozen slaves put to the lash is suffering is better than when an overseer is punished in the presence of slaves, for being at fault (Douglass Garrison, 1845, p.18). In conclusion, as an autobiographical book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass comprises so much more than just a record of historical data and official account of events. While reading the book, the reader can picture the nineteenth century slavery and understand what it took the narrator to become a free man. It is hardly possible not to empathize with Douglass as the former slave. The very institution of slavery appears even more abominable, absurd, and cruel after reading this powerful anti-slavery tract. The life experience as a slave in the South was painful, but it made the narrator whom he became at the end, the symbol of humanrs persistence to gain freedom.

The One That Got Away Short Story - 1641 Words

The one that got away Sitting on a cramped shelf, a book sits there, waiting to be read and remembered by someone. Unfortunately every person who passes by does not even give the gift of acknowledgment. Day after day the book losses more hope,with no will or effort to be read, collecting dust in its bindings. Alone, full of words and meaning ,a story with adventure and hope, the book grows old, while still keeping its’ crisp youthfulness. For all the book’s miraculous treasure held in the inside, it’s own emptiness and worry consumes it from back to cover. The worry and desire to be read is slowly consuming it, the book is anxious. â€Å"Why won’t anyone read me? What have I done to†¦show more content†¦Tickled by the affection of being read, the book is full of joy as its anxiety slowly but surely settles down.The book’s chest loosens up, unlike before when it had a tightness that would not go away , its happiness takes over the darkness that once consumed it,which is also a new experience for the book. Jessica was the opposite, still happy, but on a thrill ride that this book is taking her on, she couldn’t contain her excitement so her heart was pounding, and she was sure everyone in the book store could hear the thump thump thumping of her nervous heart. But no one could, every now and then though,the book could feel the girls racing heart in her hands as she held the book’s sides firmly and protectively. Jessica was lost in a world more astonishing than one she was truly present in, the point of the story where she was reading at was the rising action. All the knights and kinsmen joined together to defeat the unlikely villain, the damsel in distress was not a person nor a damsel, giving a comic relief to the story.Jessica truly enjoyed that about the book, how unique and unfamiliar it was with plot twists here and there while predictability was sprinkled throughout this adventurous tale. Nearly at the middle of the book her peers who coldly ignored her before, strut towards her giving the bookstore’s atmosphere an unwelcoming vibe. â€Å"Whatcha got there?† saidShow MoreRelatedLamb To The Slaughter Essay Conclusion841 Words   |  4 PagesIn the short story Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl the husband that comes home early one day with bad news. He told his pregnant wife something. It was really shocking to her, and in the story it said that she got really sad. He then says that he would give her money and see that she is looked after. When she heard the news she went downstairs to the basement and got a frozen lamb to cook him. 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Oryx and Crake Free Essays

Film Version of Oryx and Crake Jimmy- Joseph Gordon Levitt To play this role the actor would have to be very reserved at times but also very emotional at others. As well he has to be willing to take the backseat to Crake which I think Levitt would be willing to do. Levitt also has sex appeal which Jimmy shows throughout the novel. We will write a custom essay sample on Oryx and Crake or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 50/50 Levitt showed his incredible ability to show emotion in easy and tough times which would be perfect for Oryx and Crake. In the Dark Knight Rises Levitt plays the lesser role of Robin which shows the he is willing to play a role in the background. Snowman- Christian Bale For snowman it is important to be a grim figure, which shows through his face and emotion how depressing the situation he is in really is. Christian Bale visually would portray this very well because his facial hair can be very not kept which shows the struggle of the new world. In Batman Begins when he is training his image is not well kept and even the way he acts conveys the message that there is not a lot of hope which is perfect for this role. Crake- Ben Whishaw For this role it is crucial to be a very flat character and not show a lot of emotion. At the same time this type of character will tell quick jokes that not every gets, resulting in a quirky type of humor. Ben Whishaw would convey these character traits perfectly because of his natural facial expression and also with the type of roles he typically plays. He is a very skilled actor who’s most recent movie is We Need To Talk About Kevin which is a suspenseful thriller, in this movie his character is very subdued and does not talk a lot with slight tweaking to some of the traits he showed in that movie he would be a perfect fit for Crake. Oryx- Brenda Song Oryx is a very mysterious character who is far from innocent but shows very closed minded tendencies as she does not like to acknowledge past traumatic experiences that she has faced in her life. This character would communicate with Oryx because she is an Asian actor like Oryx and she also has large sad eyes that you feel sad for which will complement the role nicely. Brenda Song acted in the Social Network where she has sexual relations with one of the characters which will prepare her for Oryx’s sexual role, but apart from that she acted decently in the Social Network and with the role of Oryx she does not have to show much emotion. Jimmy’s father- George Clooney Jimmy’s father has trouble connecting with his son but he is a very social and intelligent person. He is also a very sarcastic person and when he interacted with his wife it revealed that he is very quick to anger as well. George Clooney would represent these character traits fairly because of his rewarding career he can do just about anything, with his smile and straight hair it conveys that he is social and with certain outfit changes he can appear as intelligent. He is perfect for this role because of his character in the movie The Descendants where he plays the father in a dysfunctional family similar to the one in Oryx and Crake. This shows that he has played a similar role in his career and he would surely be up to the task. Sharon- Susan Sarandon Sharron is a very rebellious character in the novel, which at the same time shows her courageousness standing up to major Compounds to get a message across. She is the type of person that will not stop until the job is done. Susan Sarandon is perfect because she is confident and brave person who is a strong woman that will convey the character traits of Sharon. Since she is an older actor the role of mother fits perfectly with her because she is a nurturing person but because of the red hair of think of someone more rebellious. In her role in Thelma and Louise it shows that she is ready to play a more rebellious character, this is also proven in Rocky Horror Picture Show as this was a very controversial movie. Both these movies show that she can make brave decisions and is not afraid to be courageous like she has to be in this role of Sharon. This is a perfect role for this actor. How to cite Oryx and Crake, Essay examples